b'42 APA FUELING fuel tank and fuel truck for UL94, but jetCenters opted to dedicate Based aircraft ownersone of its existing tanks and trucks to unleaded fuel. It also can apply to receive $110covered the associated costs of switching the equipment from reimbursement for the100LL to UL94. supplemental type certificate needed to use UL94.To further encourage the transition, APA is currently covering the cost difference between UL94 and 100LLabout $1 per gallon. We thought it would make sense, at least for the remainder of 2023, to subsidize the cost of the fuel to the user so theyre not paying a penalty to be environmentally friendly, Fronapfel explains. Each week, personnel at jetCenters complete a market analysis, checking the price of both fuels to determine the prevailing price differential. At the end of each month, the fixed base operator makes a payment request to the airport for that amount. The out-the-door price to the customers is the same, Fronapfel notes. Let It FlowIn May, jetCenters of Colorado pumped 8,373 gallons of UL94about 15% of all fuel (avgas and jetA) sold at the airport. We thought that was great, remarks Fronapfel. While other fuel providers at APA currently do not offer UL94, Fronapfel considers After deciding to pursue the change, airport leaders met withthe volume jeCenters is pumping a solid start for the full transition flight schools on the airfield to ensure that they would use the newto more environmentally friendly fueling at APA.fuel if it were available. Overwhelmingly, they were in favor of it,To cover its current per-gallon and supplemental type certificate with the exception of one that flies primarily Cirrus aircraft thatsubsidy programs, APA is using airport funds originally earmarked cant use UL94, Fronapfel notes. According to Swift, the 100Rfor an environmental study and the preliminary design of an air alternative hopes to address this need in the months to come.traffic control tower. That project is still in the works, but the The Arapahoe County Public Airport Authority Board, whichairport received a Bipartisan Infrastructure Law grant for it, thus owns and operates APA, recognized that switching to UL94 isfreeing up its own funds for the UL94 transition. a partnership that requires cooperation across the facility. If weWhen officials review the airport budget at the end of this year, went down this path, they werent going to just sit there with athe Board will determine whether the subsidies are necessary tank of fuel going stale, Fronapfel explains.and/or financially feasible for 2024. Were really committed to the transition, he adds. In orderSome community members expressed concerns about to demonstrate that and for UL94 to gain a foothold here atsubsidies attracting too much additional traffic to the airport, but Centennial, the Board felt the airport needed to help subsidizethat hasnt been the case so far. At least the first three months, itat least initially.all the unleaded fuel was sold to based customers, Fronapfel This March, the Arapahoe County Public Airport Authorityreports, acknowledging that could change. We had zero Board authorized APA to reimburse based aircraft owners up totransient aircraft that flew into Centennial to purchase fuel. $110 each for a supplemental type certificate required to useLooking ahead, 100LL will be available at APA for the foreseeable UL94 fuel. Weve done it for three of the four major flight schoolsfuture, as the process of introducing UL94 or any other unleaded here, and that really helped convince jetCenters of Colorado [thefuels will take time. Fronapfel notes that one of the advantages of fixed base operator that sells about 60% of all avgas on the field]UL94 is that it can be mixed at any ratio with 100LL. that there is a market here, Fronapfel explains. That said, he expects demand for the environmentally friendly As of June 29, APA had processed supplemental typeoption to grow at APA and elsewhere. When the study comes certificate reimbursements for 84 aircraft, including 69 owned byout this year from the EPA, I think theres going to be a lot more flight schools at the airport. In fact, a 2022 Piper Archer ownedpressure for people to convert, he says. I hope [other airports] by the Aspen Flying Club flight school was the first aircraft totake our example and run with it.be fueled with UL94 at APA. The supplemental type certificate entitles the holder to all future FAA-authorized supplemental typeDAcosta declined to share specific information about the certificates for upcoming unleaded fuels from Swift Fuels at novolume of UL94 being used nationwide, noting that Swift Fuels extra cost, notes DAcosta. is a privately held company. Demand is certainly high, and its growing, he says, adding that production is doubling every few Leaders from the airport and fixed base operator alsomonths. discussed the option of APA subsidizing the purchase of a new November | December 2023AirportImprovement.com'